'A really lovely mix': Leeds hospitality businesses meet to shape new collective
The newly formed Leeds Hospitality Collective has had their inaugural meeting at the Corn Exchange in the city centre
Restaurateurs, bar and pub owners, suppliers and other hospitality businesses have joined forces to launch a new grassroots organisation in Leeds, with plans to strengthen the city's food and drink scene.
The Leeds Hospitality Collective was founded earlier this year by Sam Pullan (Empire Cafe, The Highland Laddie) and Sandy Jarvis (Bavette) to drive collaboration across the sector and help make Leeds “the strongest, most exciting hospitality scene it can be.”
Its mission is to provide a supportive space for business owners, give them a stronger collective voice and celebrate Leeds as one of the UK's best places to eat and drink.
Over the summer, independent operators and hospitality businesses were invited to sign up to the collective ahead of its inaugural meeting, which was held last month at the Corn Exchange.
“It went really well. We had about 50 people turn up,” co-founder Sandy told the YEP. “There were lots of different people from lots of different types of hospitality businesses in Leeds - restaurants, pubs, outside caterers, coffee distributors. A really lovely mix.”
The meeting was chaired by Sandy and Sam alongside Leeds food writer Thom Archer.
Sandy said the collective's priorities would be shaped by its members.
“It's not about us or our agenda. The collective has got to do what the collective members want to do,” he said.
“If they're frustrated that the collective isn't doing something, then it's for them to do it, and we'll support them. If enough members want it to happen, then it'll happen.”
One planned resource is a library of advice videos for hospitality business owners and people starting businesses.
“We want to start building up a database of helpful videos for people who run their own businesses or are setting up their own business,” Sandy said.
The videos will cover topics such as negotiating with trustees, dealing with the council and licensing, and setting up a restaurant. Sandy said the advice could be useful to new and established operators alike.
“There are lots of things you suddenly have to do that you've never dealt with before. If there's helpful advice we can give people, that's really good,” he said.
He added: “People who've been running their businesses for ages can come up against a problem and not know how to fix it. Someone else has probably dealt with that problem. Why should they start from square one again?
“If they can reach out and get advice from people who've dealt with the same problem, that'll be really good.”
The collective also wants to maintain dialogue with the council and MPs and help promote Leeds hospitality nationally.
But Sandy said the organisation's next steps would ultimately be decided by its members, with those involved encouraged to identify the projects and issues they want to take forward.
The inaugural meeting was the first step towards creating a collective voice for Leeds hospitality, with the group now looking to turn those ideas into practical support for businesses across the city.